Hydrocodone Addiction What Is Hydrocodone & Is It Addictive?
However, some Vicodin-specific factors can increase the likelihood of an addiction forming. These include Vicodin overprescribing and the drug’s powerful effects on the brain. You will have 24-7 access to medical care and emotional support. This is designed to help you get to the root of your addiction, focus on recovery, and learn healthy coping mechanisms to change your relationship with hydrocodone.
Treating Vicodin Addiction
Products containing acetaminophen are widespread and often available over-the-counter, including Tylenol and cough, cold and flu treatments. If you are unsure whether a product contains acetaminophen, contact your doctor or pharmacist. The maximum recommended dose of acetaminophen is 3 grams (3000 milligrams) in 24 hours. Vicodin contains the active ingredients hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
Understanding Hydrocodone Addiction
A person addicted to opioids — or any substance — is much more likely to recover if the family doesn’t ignore the issue. If you think your loved one may be addicted to opioids, talk with their healthcare professional right away. If you find yourself having difficulty during your taper, support from others can be very helpful.
How opioid use disorder occurs
Vicodin is a prescription opioid pain reliever that is made of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is often used to treat moderate to severe pain, but it does have the potential for dependence and addiction. Someday you may face a sudden, short-term health problem such as surgery or an injury. If an opioid is prescribed, let your healthcare team know if you had any trouble tapering off opioids in the past. If you’ve successfully tapered off opioid medicine in the past, taking opioids for a brief time — with guidance from your healthcare professional — may be OK.
Stop taking Vicodin and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling. If you have this type of reaction, you should never again take any medicine that contains acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription. If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the doctor ahead of time that you are using this medicine. Vicodin tablets are used for the relief of moderate to moderately severe pain.
Medically assisted detox
If you believe you are addicted to the drug, seek professional assistance. Opioid rehab and treatment is the most effective approach to overcoming addiction. They can harm a person’s physical, psychological and social health. The side effects of hydrocodone can be what is holistic addiction treatment mild or severe, and prolonged use can increase a person’s risk for significant health problems. Because most people with a hydrocodone addiction begin by misusing a prescription given to them by their doctor, it can be difficult to see the signs of addiction.
This drug activates the same receptors in the brain as Vicodin, releasing dopamine and relieving withdrawals. For this reason, in March 2014, the FDA announced that all manufacturers have ceased marketing products with more than 325 mg of acetaminophen. While research is still ongoing, it’s generally accepted that addiction involves many factors. Some people enjoy these effects so much that they begin to crave hydrocodone and use it to cope with everyday stresses. Hydrocodone brings much-needed pain relief and, for some, a pleasurable sensation of warmth and euphoria.
While hydrocodone is typically taken orally, some who abuse the drug crush the pills and either snort or inject the powder. If you need help quitting Vicodin or another opiate-based drug, discuss your options with your doctor. There are resources available that can help you get through the process and find the support you need to overcome Vicodin misuse.
When used correctly, the medication can calm a patient’s discomfort. Individuals who choose to utilize the drug illegally usually crush it themselves. Rather than be taken orally, the powder is snorted into the body by the user. Because Vicodin already contains acetaminophen, combining it with other acetaminophen-containing products is extremely dangerous and toxic to your liver.
In as little as five days of prescribed use, the risk for developing a chronic hydrocodone addiction increases significantly. When someone stops using Vicodin abruptly, they’ll experience withdrawal symptoms within 12 hours following the last dose. Do not share your pills with others because this can cause them to experience an overdose or develop addiction. If you are prescribed the medication, be sure to follow the directions on the label. Taking it too much or too often can lead to overdose, dependence or addiction. People addicted to Vicodin may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking it.
- Vicodin changes your perception of pain and your emotional response to it.
- Vicodin can be a dangerous medication alone, but combining it with other drugs or alcohol can make it even more dangerous.
- At the same time, it causes the release of dopamine — a “feel good” hormone — throughout the body.
- Along with the physical side effects of long-term Vicodin abuse, there can be effects on a person’s entire life.
Some of these programs use medications to help ease withdrawal, while others don’t. The best approach for you will depend greatly on the nature of your addiction. Opioids interfere with pain signals heading to the brain to change your perception of pain as well as your emotional reaction to it. When used correctly and for only a short period, hydrocodone is usually safe and effective. Many people who run out of the money they need to purchase opiates will turn to criminal actions to get their drugs. Around the country, Vicodin is a very common drug in pharmacy thefts.
But over time, the opioid use disorder is likely to lead to serious problems. When addicted to a drug, a person will continue to use the drug even when it makes life worse. Using large amounts of hydrocodone long-term reduces an individual’s breathing rate, which in turn reduces how much oxygen their body takes in. This can cause damage to various organ systems, including the brain. It can also increase the risk of sudden death for individuals who suffer from sleep apnea or lung diseases. People who crush and smoke hydrocodone can also damage their lungs by smoking the harsh chemicals.
When Vicodin is taken over a lengthy period of time, you can build up a tolerance to the medication. This means you have to take increasingly larger amounts to achieve the same effect. When you quit taking Vicodin, you may experience feelings of irritability, anxiety, and mood swings. As your body withdraws from the drug, you may feel as if you have a cold or flu, with a stuffy or runny nose, fever, sweats, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In addition, always discard unused medication, including any unused Vicodin pills, properly. You can dispose of unused or expired medications at a medicine take-back event.
Do not stop using Vicodin suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Do not use this medicine if you have taken a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, alcohol’s effects on the body national institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism niaaa and tranylcypromine. When you call our team, you will speak to a Recovery Advocate who will answer any questions and perform a pre-assessment to determine your eligibility for treatment. If eligible, we will create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
However, due to the addictive nature of opioids, regular use of hydrocodone can be habit-forming. Once the body becomes dependent on hydrocodone to feel normal, trying to quit taking them will result in symptoms of withdrawal. To mitigate withdrawal, individuals should treat their hydrocodone addiction through medication for alcohol use disorder detox and rehab. Opioids are safest when used for three or fewer days to manage serious pain, such as pain that follows surgery or a bone fracture. If you need opioids for severe pain, work with your healthcare professional to take the lowest dose possible, for the shortest time needed, exactly as prescribed.
